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In the rapidly growing online classes, the need for tools to assist the instructors is growing. The availability of information made through the internet has caused a rise in the act of plagiarism. To assist the online instructor there has been much software developed. There are numerous available to the online instructor; PlagScan, PlagiarismDetection, and Turnitin are three of the well-known. These software packages will help the instructor deter plagiarism and bring to the attention of the student the severity of this issue.
To further assist in the prevention of cheating or plagiarizing; it would be helpful to design your assessments so students will be able to use the text material and collaborate with others if the need arises. Design your assessments to encourage the students to use the resources that have been provided for them. If the student can see the applicable use within an assessment the less likely they to commit academic dishonesty. Open book exams can be designed to have the student research the material and use it in every day work simulation. This provides the student with the skills required on the job. This will reduce the likely hood of cheating.
As an online instructor the use of automated plagiarism detection software would be very helpful; however as the instructor I would advise the student that it would be in their best interest to use a free plagiarism detection software before turning in their work. I would in turn explain to the students the severity of cheating or committing plagiarism; as stated in the lessons video by Dr. Dr. Palloff and Pratt; many of the students may not consider what they are doing as plagiarism. Most of the students online see a wealth of information and don’t perceive the cut and paste from the internet has plagiarism. To help the students further understand the realness of the issue; explain the stance the school has on the issues. It is a good idea to try and get the student to understand the pride of authorship and the importance of respecting the work of another.
In addition it would be a good idea to get the student to understand that their work should come from their creativity and their understanding of a topic. This is to remind the student that in most cases course work is will relate directly to your job, and the best efforts put forward now may help propel them forward later. In the time it takes to process cheating or commit plagiarism an individual can develop some great ideas of their own by simply taking the time needed and understanding the creativity of their own thoughts. In reading the “Plagiarism by Adult Learners Online” I realized that the percentage of incidents regarding plagiarism in adult learners is just as bad as the young learners. You would think that individuals that had been in the work force for some time understands that cheating will never pay off. As future instructor and ID personal it falls upon our shoulders to get prepared that will help reduce these incidents. Cheating is not going to go away because we wish it to. Therefore we must train ourselves to look for it the best ways we can to overcome the issue. Gathering the known information, tools and understanding how it works today, is our best online of defense.
Karl, I also believe that the availability of information made through the internet has caused a rise in the act of plagiarism. Additionally, the Google search engine has put information on a silver platter for learners that copy and paste becomes the easy way out. Fortunately, there are numerous plagiarism detection software available today that make the instructors' job a lot more easier when it comes to plagiarism in online learning environment. However, I think before any of these plagiarism detection software is used, the instructor needs to make sure learners are aware and understand importance as well as the consequence of plagiarism. If necessary, the instructor should educate the learners prior to using the software because it should not be assumed that all students understand plagiarism because the assumption could be wrong and innocent students could end up being victims of plagiarism.
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